May 2016 Walks

RECAPS OF "WARBLER WEDNESDAYS" AND "FEATHERED FRIDAYS" OUTINGS

“Warbler Wednesdays”

W. Lebanon, NH -- Boston Lot Lake﻿

﻿

Wednesday, May 25th

Early morning river valley mist made for less than optimal conditions for the final "Warbler Wednesdays" event of the 2016 migration season. Nonetheless, 15 determined birders headed up to the lake in hopes of recording some good sightings.

A respectable 32 species were recorded. With the leaf canopy fully out and the poor visibility, a good number of the species were heard and not seen. A continuing ring-necked duck was observed consorting with a pair of male mallards. Red-eyed vireos were abundant (6) and noisy as is their want to be. Among the eight warbler species recorded were a pair of black-throated blues and a pair of black and whites. All individuals were identified by song only, not surprisingly. as they called from high up in the leaf canopy.

A full account of the day's records can be found by using the following eBird link.

Thanks to "Pip" Richens and Blake Allison for being co-leaders and co-recorders. ﻿

Wednesday, May 18th

The day began with the spectacle of an immature bald eagle trying to "take" a mallard from the waters behind Wilder Dam and ended up with a very respectable 49 species seen during the Mascoma Chapter's third, May 2016 installment of "Warbler Wednesdays."

A sky of scattered clouds and a chilly, temperature reading of 39 degrees greeted the walk's fifteen participants as they set off up the Boston Lot Lake access road. As is often the case, a pair of flowering apple trees at the power line cut was filled with maddeningly elusive warblers. Just the same, good views of a Tennessee warbler and a chestnut-sided warbler were enjoyed. They were two of the eleven warbler species enjoyed by participants on the day.

The vireo family was represented by three species, red-eyed (4), blue-headed (1) and yellow-throated (2). The yellow-throated vireos were tracked down by a trio of intrepid birders who followed them deep into the woods behind the lake.

In the flycatcher family an eastern phoebe, a least flycatcher and a first of season great-crested flycatcher were observed.

A list of the day's complete counts can be found using the following eBird link:

The promise of fine weather and waves of newly arriving spring migrants created heightened anticipation for the 22 birders who participated in the Mascoma Chapter's outing at W. Lebanon's Boston lot lake this past Wednesday. They were not disappointed, as 42 species were recorded in just over two hours of observation.

Wood warblers were well-represented with ten species observed including a blackburnian, an American redstart and both black-throated blue (three) and a black throated green warblers. Among the thrushes seen were a veery, a hermit thrush and three robins. A broad-winged hawk was the only raptor species observed. A spotted sandpiper also was recorded. Perhaps the one we saw last week? Baltimore orioles (four) were abundant and noisily calling along the power line cut and up at the lake.

A complete list of the day's sightings is available from eBird by clicking on the following link:

Thanks to Gail "Pip" Richens and Blake Allison for co-leading and keeping the count list.

﻿

Wednesday, May 4th

The inaugural 2016 "Warbler Wednesdays" outing took place under cloudy skies with the temperature barely breaking 50. Just the same, 15 participants were on hand to enjoy the birding equivalent of throwing out the first pitch of the new season.

A respectable total of 33 species was observed. Highlights included four warbler species: northern parula (three), black and white (one), yellow-rumped (at least ten) and pine (two). At the lake, three swallow species were seen flitting and swooping over the water. These included at least eight tree swallows, as well as one each of barn and northern rough-legged.

The sole raptor was a broad-winged hawk that glided purposefully over the pond. Waterfowl included a ring-necked duck, three Canada geese and 15 mallards. A spotted sandpiper was heard but never visually confirmed.

This visit to the former site of the Bedell Covered Bridge, lost in a September 1979 hurricane, offers an opportunity to see a wide variety of birds due to the park’s interesting combination of riparian, mixed woodlands and agricultural land habitats. The park entrance is located on NH Rt.10 just north of the Haverhill Green. Meet in the parking lot at the Norwich end of the Ledyard Bridge to form car pools.

Free and open to the public. Bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope as you prefer. All skill levels welcome. Walking conditions are level traveling over mostly paved surfaces.

To be led by Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee Chair Blake Allison.

﻿

“Feathered Fridays”

Union Village Dam Park﻿

Thetford Center, VT

Friday, May 27th

A stubbornly, persistent morning, valley fog engulfed Union Village Dam Park as thirteen birders gathered for the third installment of the Mascoma Chapter's May "Feathered Fridays" program. Despite the poor visibility and the cool temperature, a respectable 47 species and one unidentified accipiter were recorded.

A mind-boggling count of 15 chestnut-sided warblers headed the tally sheet. No one could remember ever seeing so many on one outing. That high total was followed closely by common yellowthroats at twelve. All in all, a dozen warbler species were observed.

Insectivore numbers continued to be disappointing with records noted for only eastern phoebe (1), alder flycatcher (1) and eastern kingbird (1). White-throated sparrows (6) and song sparrows (4) were abundant, but no swamp sparrows were present.

A complete listing of the day's sightings can be viewed by clicking on the following eBird link:

Thanks to Blake Allison for leading the walk and keeping the count list.

Friday, May 20th

A stubbornly, persistent morning, valley fog engulfed Union Village Dam Park as thirteen birders gathered for the third installment of the Mascoma Chapter's May "Feathered Fridays" program. Despite the poor visibility and the cool temperature, a respectable 47 species and one unidentified accipiter were recorded.

A mind-boggling count of 15 chestnut-sided warblers headed the tally sheet. No one could remember ever seeing so many on one outing. That high total was followed closely by common yellowthroats at twelve. All in all, a dozen warbler species were observed.

Insectivore numbers continued to be disappointing with records noted for only eastern phoebe (1), alder flycatcher (1) and eastern kingbird (1). White-throated sparrows (6) and song sparrows (4) were abundant, but no swamp sparrows were present.

A complete listing of the day's sightings can be viewed by clicking on the following eBird link:

Thanks to Blake Allison for leading the walk and keeping the count list.

Friday, May 13th

Cloudy skies and the threat of rain did not tamp down the spirits of the seventeen birders who assembled at 7:00 a.m. to assess the currant extent of the spring migration at UVDP's "Mystery Trail" area and environs. Their eagerness was rewarded by the recording of fifty-two species. A higher number certainly would have been achieved had reasonably expected species - swamp sparrows, willow and alder flycatchers, yellow-rumped warblers and eastern kingbirds - been present .

Just the same, there were highlights aplenty. Twelve warbler species were tallied including a Nashville and a magnolia warbler. The party had good looks at a blackburnian warbler, and a black and white warbler was heard. Yellow warblers and common yellowthroats, vocal and very territorial, were abundant in the thickets around the wetland and along the river.

In the thrush family, five veeries were a reasonably expected tally, but two swainson's thrushes, one providing an extended view, were a pleasant surprise.

A blue gray gnatcatcher was an unexpected find. An American bittern obligingly exposed itself as it flew into the wetland and thereafter provide good views for all of the party as it foraged in the tall grasses lining the shore.

A complete list of the day's count can be found by clicking on the following eBird link:

Thanks to Blake Allison for serving as the walk's leader and record-keeper. ﻿

Friday, May 6th

Despite cool conditions at the outset, 22 enthusiastic birders gratefully welcomed mostly sunny skies as they set out on the first of the season visit Union Village Dam Park (UVDP).

Thirty-eight species were recorded during the two hours and forty minute exploration of the park's varied habitat that includes a wetland complex, a branch of the Ompompanoosuc River, a mixed hardwood and coniferous forest and open fields.

Among the highlights recorded were an American bittern that obligingly flew into the wetlands and remained visible among the emerging grasses for more than ten minutes, a green heron, two spotted sandpipers, a barred owl heard calling from the woods and a drumming roughed grouse. Also seen and/or heard were six white-throated sparrows, two swamp sparrows, an eastern towhee, two belted kingfishers, two noisy house wrens and a singing Louisiana waterthrush.

Thanks to George Clark, Peg Ackerson and Blake Allison for leading the outing, and thanks to Blake for keeping the count list.

A complete record of the morning's observations can be found on eBird: